The magnetic field developed
by an electromagnet means and that of a permanent magnet means of a rotor repel
each other. In addition, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet means is
flattened by the magnetic fields of other nearby permanent magnets and
electromagnet means. Therefore, a torque is produced therebetween to
efficiently rotate the rotor. Since the rotor has a high inertial force, when
the rotor starts rotating, its speed increases by the inertial force and the
turning force.

A magnetic rotating apparatus
related to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to the following drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic
diagrams of a magnetic rotating apparatus related to one embodiment of the present
invention. In the specification, the term "magnetic rotating
apparatus" will include an electric motor, and from its general meaning of
obtaining turning force from the magnetic forces of permanent magnets, it will
refer to a rotating apparatus utilizing the magnetic forces. As shown in FIG.
1, in the magnetic rotating apparatus related to one embodiment of the present
invention, a rotating shaft 4 is rotatably fixed to a frame 2 with bearings 5.
To the rotating shaft 4, there are fixed a first magnet rotor 6 and a second
magnet rotor 8, both of which produce turning forces and a rotated body 10,
which has mounted therealong a plurality of rod-shaped magnets 9 for obtaining
the turning forces as energy. They are fixed in such a manner as to be rotatable
with the rotating shaft 4. At the first and second magnet rotors 6 and 8, there
are provided, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 1
and 2, a first electromagnet 12 and a second electromagnet 14 respectively are
energized in synchronism with rotations of the first and second magnet rotors 6
and 8, both of which face each other and are each disposed in a magnetic gap.
The first and second electromagnets 12 and 14 are respectively mounted to a
yoke 16, which forms a magnetic path.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first
and second magnet rotors 6 and 8 each have disposed on its disk-shaped surface
a plurality of tabular magnets 22A through 22H for developing a magnetic field
for generating the turning forces and balancers 20A through 20H, made of
non-magnetic substances, for balancing the magnet rotors 6 and 8. In the
embodiments, the first and second magnet rotors 6 and 8 each have disposed
along the disk-shaped surface 24 at equal intervals the eight tabular magnets
22A through 22H along half of the outer peripheral area and +the eight
balancers 20A through 20H along the other half of the outer peripheral area.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of
the tabular magnets 22A through 22H are disposed so that its longitudinal axis
1 makes an angle D with respect to a radial axis line 11 of the disk-shaped
surface 24. In the embodiment, an angle of 30 degrees and 56 degrees have been
confirmed for the angle D. An appropriate angle, however, can be set depending
on the radius of the disk-shaped surface 24 and the number of tabular magnets
22A through 22H to be disposed on the disk-shaped surface 24. As illustrated in
FIG. 2, from the viewpoint of effective use of the magnetic field, it is
preferable that the tabular magnets 22A through 22H on the first magnet rotor 6
are positioned so that their N-poles point outward, while the tabular magnets
22A through 22H on the second magnet rotor 8 are positioned so that their
S-poles point outward.

Exterior to the first and
second magnet rotors 6 and 8, the first and second electromagnets 12 and 14 are
disposed facing the first and second magnet rotors 6 and 8 respectively in the
magnetic gap. When the first and second electromagnets 12 and 14 are energized,
they develop a magnetic field identical in polarity to the their respective
tabular magnets 22A through 22H so that they repel one anther. In other words,
as shown in FIG. 2, since the tabular magnets 22A through 22H on the first
magnet rotor 6 have their N-poles facing outwards, the first electromagnet 12
is energized so that the side facing the first magnet rotor 6 develops an
N-polarity. In a similar way, since the tabular magnets 22A through 22H on the
second magnet rotor 8 have their S-poles facing outwards, the second
electromagnet 14 is energized so that the side facing the tabular magnets 22A
through 22H develops a S-polarity. The first and second electromagnets 12 and
14, which are magnetically connected by the yoke 16, are magnetized so that the
sides facing their respective magnet rotors 6 and 8 are opposite in polarity
with respect to each other. This means that the magnetic fields of the
electromagnets 12 and 14 can be used efficiently.

A detector 30, such as
microswitch, is provided to either one of the first magnet rotor 6 or second
magnet rotor 8 to detect the rotating position of the magnet rotors 6 and 8.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in a rotational direction 32 of the tabular
magnets 22A through 22H, the first and the second magnet rotors 6 and 8 are
respectively energized when the leading tabular 22A has passed. In other words,
in the rotational direction 32, the electromagnet 12 or 14 is energized when
starting point So, located between the leading tabular magnet 22A and the
following tabular magnet 22B coincides with the center point Ro of either the electromagnet
12 or 14. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the rotational direction 32
of the tabular magnets 22A through 22H, the first and the second magnet rotors
6 and 8 are de-energized when the last tabular magnet 22A has passed. In the
embodiment, an end point Eo is set symmetrical to the starting point So on the
rotating disk-shaped surface 24. When the end point Eo coincides with the
center point Ro of either the electromagnet 12 or 14, the electromagnet 12 or
14 is de-energized, respectively. As will be described later, with the center
point Ro of the electromagnet 12 or 14 arbitrarily set between the starting
point So and the end point Eo, the magnet rotors 6 and 8 start to rotate when
the electromagnets 12 and 14 and their tabular magnets 22A through 22H face one
another. When a microswitch is used as the detector 30 for detecting the
rotating position, the contact point of the microswitch is allowed to slide
along the surface of the rotating disk-shaped surface 24. A step is provided
for the starting point So and the end point Eo so that the contact of the
microswitch closes between the starting point So and the end point Eo. The area
along the periphery therebetween protrudes beyond the other peripheral areas of
the rotating disk-shaped surface 24. It is apparent that a photo sensor or the
like may be used instead of the microswitch as the detector 30 for detecting
the rotating position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the
windings of the electromagnets 12 and 14 are connected to a DC power source 42 through
a movable contact of a relay 40, which is connected in series with the
windings. A series circuit containing the relay 40 (solenoid) and the detector
30 or microswitch is connected to the DC power source 42. In addition, from the
viewpoint of energy conservation, a charger 44 such as a solar cell is
connected to the DC power source 42. It is preferable that the DC power source
42 is constantly chargeable using solar energy or the like.

In the magnetic rotating
apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic field distribution shown in
FIG. 5 is formed between the tabular magnets 22A through 22H, disposed on each
of the magnet rotors 6 and 8, and the electromagnets 12 and 14 which face them,
respectively. When the electromagnet 12 or 14 is energized, a magnetic field of
a tabular magnet of the tabular magnets 22A through 22H, adjacent to the
electromagnet 12 or 14, is distorted in the longitudinal direction in
correspondence with the rotational direction. This results in the generation of
a repulsive force therebetween. As is apparent from the distortion of the
magnetic field, the repulsive force has a larger component in the longitudinal
or perpendicular direction, and produces a torque, as shown by an arrow 32.
Similarly, a magnetic field of a tabular magnet of the tabular magnets 22A
through 22H, which next enters the magnetic field of the electromagnet 12 or
14, is distorted. Since it moves toward an opposite pole of the preceding
tabular magnet of the tabular magnets 22A through 22H, its magnetic field is
distorted to a larger extent, and thereby flattened. This means that the
repulsive force produced between the tabular magnets of the tabular magnets 22A
through 22H, which have already entered the magnetic field of the
electromagnets 12 or 14, is larger than the repulsive force developed between
the next-entering tabular magnets of the tabular magnets 22A through 22H and
the electromagnets 12 or 14. Accordingly, a turning force, shown by the arrow
32, acts upon the rotating disk-shaped surface 24. The rotating disk-shaped
surface 24, having been imparted thereto turning force, continues to rotate due
to inertial forces, even when it has been de-energized after the end point Eo
has coincided with the center point Ro of the electromagnet 12 or 14. The
larger the inertial force, the smoother the rotation.

At the initial stage of the
rotation, an angular moment, as that shown in FIG. 6, is imparted to the
rotating disk-shaped surface 24. That is, at the start of the rotation, as
shown in FIG. 6, when the pole M of a tabular magnet is slightly displaced in
the rotational direction from the pole M' of an electromagnet, a repulsive
force operates between both of the poles M and M' of the tabular magnet at the
rotating side and the electromagnet at the stationary side, respectively.
Therefore, from the relationship illustrated in FIG. 6, an angular torque T is
generated based on the formula: T=F. a.cos (.alpha.-.beta.), where in a is a
constant. The angular torque starts the rotation of the rotating disk-shaped
surface 24. After the rotating disk-shaped surface 24 has started rotating, its
rotating speed gradually increases due to an inertial moment thereof, which
allows a large turning driving force to be produced. After a stable rotation of
the rotating disk-shaped surface 24 has been produced, when a necessary
electromotive force can be developed in an electromagnetic coil (not
illustrated) by externally bringing it near a rotated body 10 to be rotated
along with the rotating disk-shaped surface 24. This electric power can be used
for other applications. This rotating principle is based on the rotating
principle of the magnetic rotating apparatus already disclosed in Japanese
Patent Publication No. 61868/1993 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,486) by the inventor.
That is, even if an electromagnet, provided for one of the rotors of the
magnetic rotating apparatus disclosed in the same Patent Application, is fixed,
it is rotated in accordance with the rotating principle disclosed therein. For
details, refer to the above Japanese Patent Publication No. 61868/1993 (U.S.
Pat. No. 4,751,486).

The number of tabular magnets
22A through 22H is not limited to "8" as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Any
number of magnets may be used. In the above-described embodiment, although the
tabular magnets 22A through 22H are disposed along half of the peripheral area
of the disk-shaped surface 24, and the balancers 20A through 20H are disposed
along the other half of the peripheral area, the tabular magnets may further be
disposed along other areas of the disk-shaped surface 24. It is preferable that
balancers, in addition to magnets, are provided along a portion of the
peripheral area on the disk-shaped surface. The counter weights, which do not
need to be formed into separate blocks, may be formed into one sheet of plate
which extends on the outer peripheral area of the disk-shaped surface. In
addition, in the above-described embodiments, while the construction is such as
to allow the electromagnets to be energized for a predetermined period of time
for every rotation of the rotating disk-shaped surface, the circuit may be so
constructed as to allow, upon increased number of rotations, energization of
the electromagnets for every rotation of the rotating disk-shaped surface,
starting from its second rotation onwards. Further, in the above-described
embodiment, a tabular magnet has been used for the permanent magnet, but other
types of permanent magnets may also be used. In effect, any type of magnet may
be used as the permanent magnet means as long as a plurality of magnetic poles
of one type is disposed along the outer surface of the inner periphery and a
plurality of magnetic poles of the other type are disposed along the inner
peripheral surface of the disk-shaped surface, so that a pair of corresponding
magnetic poles of one and the other polarities is obliquely arranged, with
respect to the radial line 11, as shown in FIG. 3.

Although the tabular magnets
22A through 22H are mounted on the magnet rotors 6 and 8 in the above
embodiment, they may be electromagnets. In this case, the electromagnets 12 and
14 may be the alternative of electromagnets or permanent magnets.

According to the magnetic
rotating apparatus of the present invention, rotational energy can be
efficiently obtained from permanent magnets. This is made possible by
minimizing as much as possible current supplied to the electromagnets, so that
only a required amount of electrical energy is supplied to the electromagnets.

It should be understood that
many modifications and adaptations of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art and it is intended to encompass such obvious
modifications and changes in the scope of the claims appended hereto.